In Florida, a father's legal rights to a child born outside of marriage do not exist automatically. Paternity must be established either through a voluntary acknowledgment signed by both parents at or after the birth, or through a court proceeding in which the court may order genetic testing. Once paternity is established, the father has the legal standing to seek time-sharing and parental responsibility — and the obligation to pay child support arises simultaneously with those rights.
Boynton Beach fathers who want to secure a formal legal relationship with their child, or mothers who need to establish paternity to pursue child support from a father who has not acknowledged the child, benefit from legal representation that understands the Palm Beach County process. Brodzki Jacobs handles paternity establishment proceedings for both mothers and fathers and advises clients on the time-sharing and support implications that follow.
